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French lorry drivers converge on Calais for refugee camp protest French lorry drivers converge on Calais for refugee camp protest
(35 minutes later)
French lorry drivers have threatened to blockade the port of Calais for days, causing severe travel disruption in France and the UK, unless a date is set for dismantling the “Jungle” refugee camp.French lorry drivers have threatened to blockade the port of Calais for days, causing severe travel disruption in France and the UK, unless a date is set for dismantling the “Jungle” refugee camp.
Jean-Pierre Devigne, a senior official at France’s largest trucking union the FNTR, confirmed that lorries and tractors would converge on Calais on Monday in two go-slow motorway protests from Dunkirk and Boulogne. Jean-Pierre Devigne, a senior official at France’s largest trucking union, the FNTR, confirmed that lorries and tractors would converge on Calais on Monday in two go-slow motorway protests from Dunkirk and Boulogne.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We want to drive slowly on the motorway A16 from Dunkirk to Calais: one group from Dunkirk and a second from Boulogne, arriving at Calais to stop the lorries on the motorway. The farmers will join us on the way. We are determined to show that we are not happy with the situation. We [will] stay for the time we need.”Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “We want to drive slowly on the motorway A16 from Dunkirk to Calais: one group from Dunkirk and a second from Boulogne, arriving at Calais to stop the lorries on the motorway. The farmers will join us on the way. We are determined to show that we are not happy with the situation. We [will] stay for the time we need.”
Asked whether they would maintain the blockade for days, Devigne said: “Yes. We are determined to stay on the motorway for the time we need.”Asked whether they would maintain the blockade for days, Devigne said: “Yes. We are determined to stay on the motorway for the time we need.”
He said the truckers are demanding a date for the dismantling of the camp, which is home to up to 10,000 refugees and migrants, a minority of whom have attacked lorries approaching the port and damaged farms. “We are waiting for a reply to the demand we [made] to the French authorities. It is about the dismantling of the Jungle. We have no date exactly.” He said the truckers want a date for the dismantling of the camp, which is home to up to 10,000 refugees and migrants, a minority of whom have attacked lorries approaching the port and damaged farms. “We are waiting for a reply to the demand we [made] to the French authorities. It is about the dismantling of the Jungle. We have no date exactly.”
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said he was “very concerned” about the impact of the protest. “If this blockade actually blocks the port up then it’s going to strangle the port and we are going to see implications back on British soil as well as French.”Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said he was “very concerned” about the impact of the protest. “If this blockade actually blocks the port up then it’s going to strangle the port and we are going to see implications back on British soil as well as French.”
But he said backed the FNTR’s demand for the Jungle camp to be demolished. “There needs to be a clear plan that shows how the camp is going to be dismantled,” Burnett told the BBC. However, he said backed the FNTR’s demand for the Jungle camp to be demolished. “There needs to be a clear plan that shows how the camp is going to be dismantled,” Burnett told the BBC, adding:
He added: “Drivers have been attacked on a daily basis for months. And there has been insufficient resource to protect.” “Drivers have been attacked on a daily basis for months. And there has been insufficient resource to protect.”
Pressure has been growing on the French authorities to tackle the problems at the camp, which has swelled in size in recent months. Talks took place between protest organisers and the French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, on Friday. Pressure has been growing on the French authorities to tackle the problems at the camp, which has expanded in recent months. Talks took place between protest organisers and the French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, on Friday.
The RHA said 200 French farmers are joining in the protest, angry at migrant action that has resulted in destroyed crops and extensive damage to farms in the area. The RHA said 200 French farmers are joining the protest, angry at migrant action that has damaged crops and local farms
Burnett added: “It seems certain that traffic crossing from the UK will find it almost impossible to leave the port as access to the A16 is denied.Burnett added: “It seems certain that traffic crossing from the UK will find it almost impossible to leave the port as access to the A16 is denied.
“The inevitable repercussions of this will surely mean that the authorities on this side of the Channel will have no alternative but to deploy Operation Stack. This will bring yet further misery to hauliers bound for mainland Europe and of course for the people and businesses of Kent.”“The inevitable repercussions of this will surely mean that the authorities on this side of the Channel will have no alternative but to deploy Operation Stack. This will bring yet further misery to hauliers bound for mainland Europe and of course for the people and businesses of Kent.”
Despite efforts to reduce numbers by dismantling the camp’s southern section earlier this year, up to 9,000 migrants from countries including Sudan, Syria and Eritrea are living there in squalor.Despite efforts to reduce numbers by dismantling the camp’s southern section earlier this year, up to 9,000 migrants from countries including Sudan, Syria and Eritrea are living there in squalor.
People smugglers are reported to be going to extreme lengths in Calais in their efforts to get people to the UK, with vehicles being torched, petrol bombs thrown and trees being cut down to block roads before drivers are threatened with chainsaws and machetes. People smugglers are reported to be going to extreme lengths in Calais to get people to the UK, with vehicles being torched, petrol bombs thrown and trees being felled to block roads before drivers are threatened with chainsaws and machetes.
Gangs are paid thousands of pounds by vulnerable people to get them to Calais, from where some are smuggled to Britain to work to pay off huge debts.Gangs are paid thousands of pounds by vulnerable people to get them to Calais, from where some are smuggled to Britain to work to pay off huge debts.
People smugglers have allegedly been causing crashes on the roads to the port by hurling large objects at cars and then stowing away on lorries caught up in the traffic jams that pile up behind.People smugglers have allegedly been causing crashes on the roads to the port by hurling large objects at cars and then stowing away on lorries caught up in the traffic jams that pile up behind.
Press Association contributed to this reportPress Association contributed to this report